v3.9.0– we hopefully now really solved the last out of sync problems for cross platform games.– animated tileset object support. ( like trees moving in the wind )– new tileset texturing possibilities– new tilesets birchforest, desert4 and updated mediterran using animated objects and new texture system– greatly improved textures and animations for the roman faction– new maps – better network game performance / management to handle slower clients.– easier ability to download game content from host and masterserver( if available there ).– new arranged options menu with several sub menus– menu gui improvements– attack hotkey toggles through all attack types– single player games can be sped up incrementally in steps. – color picking is greatly improved and the default selection mode now for better compatibility– greater ability to translate game content into your native language. (including techtrees)– Added Hebrew, Arabic, Vietnamese (and others).– screenshots for savegames without annoying menu in screenshot.– addition of google-breakpad to better track down bugs.– many new lua functions for scenario modders.– cell coordinates are shown in the mapeditor– tilesets can set default air unit heights– added ability for stand alone mod’s to customize more of the engine like about screen.– performance improvements.– and as always many bugs were fixed– improved textures for tech faction

Sarlock, a fellow member of our community, published an interesting and detailed step-by-step tutorial that teaches you how to use Blender, a free 3D computer graphic tool, to create graphics for Simutrans, focusing on buildings. The tutorial also introduces you to the basic functions of Blender. If you were wanting to learn Blender but you […]

Yes, it looks like the developers behind the long running idTech2 based AlienArena are going make a more slower paced & ‘tactical’ spin-off and try to sell it. As before the engine will stay open-source (GPLv2), but the assets for the spin-off will stop being free-as-in-beer.

Here is the official launch-trailer of the new update and the alpha demo:

Beside the new game-play mode, they have also finally updated the menu, and the new version of it is rather spiffy. You can see it in action and more of the regular game-play in this recently uploaded random YouTube vid (warning: goofy British accents and profanity). GamingOnLinux also recently had a small preview-article.

Last but not least (while we are on the topic of idTech2 based games), a small game-developer’s advertisement of a new project currently unfolding in our forums. If you know your way around Quake(2) based engines and/or pixelish art, please join the effort 😉

Note that this is a flexible funding campaign, so even if they don’t reach their goals all money donated will go to the project.

They also released a new Alpha version, codenamed Naukratis. Change-log would be too long to list here (which I consider a good thing 😉 ), but here is a picture of some high-quality newly added building models:

New blacksmith buildings

So check out the new version and please consider donating to this top of the crop FOSS game project.

Or something like that… because as much as I think FOSS games should cater to the other ermm… 2nd out of three(?) gender, I am not sure if this is meant ironic or not (description of the game Glamour):

You are Maddeline, a young princess just turned 16. Now you’re old enough to attend the royal balls and your fairy godmother will help you get ready for the most exciting dances.

Watch out your way while walking around this amazing city full of filthy foes. They may harm your look. You wouldn’t like to reach the ball all covered with dirt.

Visit the Make-up, Shoe, Dress and Accessory Castle to find the most beautiful outfits and win the Prince Charming heart.

More browser-based RPG goods for you today: the developer behind the game Moonshades recently indicated on the Opengameart.org forums that this neat old-school (ok not as old-school as Heroine Dusk) dungeon crawler is now fully open-source.

I wanted to write about this browser-based MMO game called Ironbane for a while, but never actually got around trying it (it’s easy though, no need to register for the alpha currently, just hit play; but for me under Linux with Firefox 23 it just kept loading and loading… could have been my very slow connection though). Luckily the creator got into contact with us to remind me about it.

Here is an slightly older video of the tutorial level:

The code (GPLv3) can be accessed on Github, and there is a nice contributors guide. The author also confirmed that there are plans to release all the artworks under CC-by-SA soon, so it can be called a proper FOSS game.

But regardless of that, I feel they need to work on the huge pixel (ok actually texel) density spread, e.g. the strongly different size of individual pixels on the screen 😉

We also asked the creator about any longer plans to commercialize it and this is what he got to offer in that regard:

When we reach beta we would like to offer optional stuff like houses, special clothes and other things for donations (nothing that can give an unfair advantage). So in a way this can be classified as F2P, yes.

Which I guess sounds like a good idea to fund further development and hosting costs.

Anyways… unless you live in the same internet darkage like me, there is no reason not to give it a try!